Island confirms Will Young signing

Universal’s Island Records has confirmed it has signed Will Young, a deal previously revealed by the singer himself in the final paragraphs of his new autobiography. Young, of course, was originally signed to Sony Music after winning the original ‘Pop Idol’ in 2002, but completed his five album deal with the major last year.

Confirming the new deal today, Island Records Co-President Darcus Beese told CMU: “We are absolutely delighted and enormously excited that Will, without question, one of the most consistently successful and best-loved UK male artists of the last decade, has decided to join the Island family in what we trust will be the defining phase of his career. A multi-platinum selling artist, an acclaimed actor and one of the nicest guys you’ll meet in this business, there really isn’t anyone else out there doing what Will does, anywhere near as well as he does it. We can’t wait to get started”.

Young himself added: “After almost eleven happy fulfilling years at Sony Music I have decided to move on now to Island Records. Growing up Island records was known to me as the bastion of real, exciting music. Music that was varied but always shared a common theme of soulful honesty whoever the artist was. It is with a huge sense of pride and excitement that I start the next stage of my pop career with Island Records under the flag of Universal. To go from winning a talent competition to signing with the legendary Island a decade on is truly the stuff that dreams are made of and I thank everyone who has helped me along the way”.